President Biden to visit L.A. for Hollywood fundraiser: Brace yourself for traffic headaches
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden plan this weekend to attend a fundraiser hosted by Hollywood elites that is likely to make L.A.’s notoriously bad traffic even worse — but authorities have yet to offer advance warning to help motorists avoid the expected road closures.
The first couple plan to address prominent donors supporting Biden’s reelection bid for 2024 at a home in Westwood on Friday. Notable hosts for the event include directors Steven Spielberg and Rob Reiner.
Biden is scheduled to arrive via Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, then head to Santa Monica Airport before the fundraiser. He will depart from LAX at an undisclosed time Sunday after a two-day visit.
Protesters demanding a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip rallied outside a Los Angeles fundraiser for President Biden. The LAPD warned violence would “not be tolerated.”
“For security reasons, there is no advance announcement to the public regarding ramp closures related to a visit by a U.S. president or vice president,” said Caltrans spokesperson Marc Bischoff. “The LAPD or other enforcement personnel make rolling closures at ramps along a motorcade route, with no advance announcement to the public.”
Bischoff recommends that motorists check traffic information, including the Caltrans website, prior to leaving for their destination.
In March, Biden visited the site of a mass shooting in Monterey Park, triggering several street closures and limits on parking around the site of his visit.
A member of the politically connected Pritzker family was supposed to co-host a fundraiser for President Biden. Then he was accused of sexual misconduct.
In June, Los Angeles hosted Biden and leaders from the Western Hemisphere for the ninth Summit of the Americas, an event that also created traffic headaches for motorists for six days in downtown L.A. and near LAX.
Airport officials have confirmed that Van Nuys and Burbank airports will remain open during the president’s visit but will implement temporary flight restrictions. A representative from Burbank said flight restrictions would be in effect Saturday and Sunday.
Although officials did not confirm whether these restrictions were in response to the president’s visit, the precautions align with his scheduled time in Los Angeles.
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